Friday, October 21, 2011

Ted Nugent Weighs in on Ohio Animal Issues; Kasich to Sign Executive Order

Today at 2:30, Ohio Governor John Kasich will sign an executive order dealing with exotic and dangerous animals. There's been plenty of outcry from both the public and lawmakers on the issue after the events in Zanesville.

Ohio is one of just a few states that have little or no laws on the books about owning these creatures. Kasich had previously allowed an executive order signed by Ted Strickland to expire.

Of course, the executive order won't do much besides appease everyone who wants something — anything — done in these heated moments. Kasich basically admitted so when explaining why he allowed the order to expire. (Via the Chronicle Telegram)

Rob Nichols, a Kasich spokesman, said Strickland’s executive order was unworkable because it lacked an enforcement mechanism. Nichols said that even if the ban had been in effect, the state would have had no legal authority to shut down Terry Thompson’s Muskingum County farm.

“You have to pursue it legislatively,” he said.

Which isn't exactly true, as Plunderbund and the Dispatch point out:

Strickland’s Executive Order prevented people convicted of abuse or neglect of animals from owning exotic pets. And Terry Thompson, the owner of the lions, tigers, bears and other animals that were killed in Zanesville, did have such a conviction.

Whether the new order will have more teeth, we'll have to wait and see.

"I'm going to make a call to Gov. Kasich because he (ended) an executive order by the previous governor that did prohibit and control wild animal ownership," Nugent told The Detroit News on Wednesday. "These are real, wild, dangerous, capable and dangerous animals and they belong in the wild."

[snip]

"I think it's a downright tragedy when people attempt to keep dangerous wild animals in captivity — I think it should be criminal."

Asked if there are any wild animals on his Jackson County spread, the Guitar Wildman said there's just one.

"I'm the only dangerous carnivore on the property as we speak," Nugent said. "And I'm totally controlled by Mrs. Nugent."

It should be noted Nugent is an avid hunter and has come under fire from animal groups for his "canned hunting" facility called "Sunrize Acres," a fenced-in place where folks can pay big money to go shoot animals that can never escape.

So, it's captivity if they're in your home and not captivity if they're fenced in for hunting purposes. Got it.